After a sluggish start, Detroit earned its first cushion with a 9-0 run for a 37-28 lead late in the second quarter. An 8-0 run in the third quarter gave Detroit a 49-36 lead, and the Pistons went ahead by 17 before taking a 69-54 lead into the final quarter.

Milwaukee did little more than trade baskets in the fourth quarter and never mounted a comeback.

Last year in the first round, Detroit became just the seventh of 150 NBA teams to win a series after trailing 3-1 when it rallied against Orlando.

CELTICS: Doc Rivers was hired by Boston Thursday to replace interim coach John Carroll, who was let go a day after the Celtics were swept from the first round of the playoffs by Indiana. Carroll inherited the job when Jim O'Brien quit Jan. 27 because of philosophical differences with Ainge.

"Danny Ainge called me and asked me to coach the Boston Celtics," Rivers said. "If you like basketball, I don't know how you could say no to that."

Rivers went 171-168 in five seasons with Orlando before he was fired in November when the Magic opened the season with one win and 10 consecutive losses.